The Cast of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunites!

Cast of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air It's a family reunion for your stars in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air! "Got the holiday season started right getting a brand new Prince of Bel Air reunion...there's nothin' like trading Holidays with fam!" Will Cruz written on Facebook. Watch cases of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Inside the picture Cruz released, he poses along with his former television cousins Tatyana Ali, Alfonso Ribeiro and Karyn Parsons, additionally to James Avery, who carried out patriarch Uncle Phil. The crowd shot was taken at charitable organization event for Parsons' non-profit organization, Sweet Rim. Fresh Prince stopped the atmosphere in 1996 red-colored carpet seasons.

Top Chef's Dakota: I Used To Be Hurt By Nyesha's Comments

Dakota Practicing to attain perfection - but this really is this is not on Top Chef. Dakota Weiss' trial visit prepare venison stopped without any hitch, however, if it came time to prepare for your elimination challenge, all shelves wound up undercooked, leading to her and teammate Nyesha Arrington's eliminations. "It absolutely was this kind of shock because our trial run went perfectly," Dakota notifies TVGuide.com. "As well as the shelves that counted did not emerge perfectly. But that's what continues sometimes." Just what went wrong? Uncover below.Top Chef's Nyesha: I am unsure how our dish ended up undercookedDid you think everybody were screwed whenever you saw the venison was raw?Dakota: Yeah. I believed i had been goners. I did so think for just about any moment at Judges' Table that individuals did can. I used to be so taken up throughout my very own drama as well as the venison being undercooked - but concurrently the dish actually was, great - that we wasn't really aware of all the other conditions while using other dishes. I used to be like, "Huh. We will have a chance." But ultimately, it absolutely was about [cooking] the sport which we didn't do that!What went wrong? Maybe it had been the oven? Perhaps you have not time yourself?Dakota: It's tough to convey. Both Nyesha which i were super careful. We did an attempt work on our extra rack of venison that individuals had. We seared it through inside the oven and timed it lower for the eleventh hour. We work open plus it was gorgeous. If the came lower to doing the primary one for your competition, i had been confident it may be fine. But, you understand, there are plenty of reasons for why it went wrong. There's plenty of opening in the ovens, they were tied really tight, so possibly they were more dense inside and needed a little longer to organize. Who knows?Perform the trial run occupy considerable time?Dakota: Oh, no! That's that which was funny because once we were using the stew room, the relaxation from the chefs were saying, "Gosh, everybody looked so relaxed and calm." We'd an idea. We'd everything timed lower to plating and time certainly wasn't an problem. It really needed longer with this to organize for reasons unknown. Top Chef's Whitney: My thought process was offYou didn't have a very back-up plan just just in case that happened?Dakota: There's no back-up plan. We just felt great relating to this following a trial run. I realize once i cut into that first rack, I clicked up Nyesha immediately because I believed she should recognize that they weren't searching good. Your immediate reaction is always to utilize it the stove, but if you operate in an really small kitchen with six authors, it absolutely was certainly challenging on that stove because everybody else is searching to have their stuff going. Space was an problem. I'd literally one writers and four shelves to organize. Had you been capable of ready them through?Dakota: We're able to prepare a few them. It absolutely was very rough throughout to date because the gear we required to use. I'd one writers then one sautee pan to put two shelves in and just decided to be basting, basting, basting. It came lower to the level where we required to plate, therefore i required to pull them. I desired to create that choice: Can we serve them rare venison reely whatsoever? How awkward maybe it had been at Idol idol judges Table when Louise stopped on Beverly?Dakota: Yeah. I'd rather eat nails each morning than in the past are afflicted by that again. [Laughs] It absolutely was shateringly uncomfortable. Everybody who's there's very gifted there's undoubtedly relating to this. However, you cannot put that numerous personas in one kitchen and expect everyone to acquire along. We're not able. Louise and Beverly are usually extremely effective chefs, however personas clash and so they deal with feelings in different ways. They deal with their staff in different ways. I'm speaking about, it might happen eventually with somebody plus it been Beverly and Louise.Perhaps you have think it absolutely was strange she elevated last week's challenge? Everyone knows the idol idol judges don't be concerned by what went lower even earlier tomorrow.Dakota: Yeah, absolutely. I had been all baffled ourselves. A few everybody was like, "Overcome it! This is often a new day, new challenge." The fact these were given paired together - many of us understood this isn't prone to go well. [Laughs] It absolutely was very strange, very awkward. I'm certainly glad it's over. In my opinion everybody felt they were either prone to hit it in the ballpark because they'd be trying to complete their utmost or they're just prone to completely let their personas get if this involves their cooking. Top Chef's Chuy: I understood I used to be screwedYou clearly felt guilty about taking Nyesha lower together with you. Did everybody enter into it knowing that something of this character can happen?Dakota: We certainly did. Clearly I felt super guilty. The whole situation only decided to be awful. But concurrently, it absolutely was a team challenge. Being the main focus was the venison, possibly us must have tried it. I used to be somewhat overlooked together with just a little hurt to hear her comments - the thing that was all I desired to complete which i messed up. It absolutely was like, "Yeah, but hey, we're a team." Which I didn't just concentrate on the venison. I did so alternative activities the folks loved, like the gratin. I am unsure. I'm guilty, however i must help help remind myself that we can't sit here and put on it, also it might be a team effort. We just didn't work effectively together ultimately. It absolutely was an undesirable team effort.Exactly what are you to date?Dakota: I'm in Party hell! [Laughs] ... Everybody's getting their Christmas parties and they wish to take action here [at W La], that's fabulous and i'm super searching toward that. So just working plus much more Christmas parties.

'Thor 2' Star Natalie Portman Furious Over Director Patty Jenkins' Firing

Providing proof that live event programming and football are important draws for broadcast television, the National Football League on Wednesday announced it has agreed to nine-year extensions of its relationship with CBS, Fox and NBC.our editor recommendsNFL, Broadcast Networks Close to Eight-Year TV Deal Extension (Report)Tim Tebow Effect: How a Phenom Cashes InTV Ratings: Giants and Cowboys Give Strongest Sunday Night Football Showing in Weeks2011-2012 College Football Bowl Game Schedule The NFL's current agreement was set to expire in 2013. This now keeps the games on broadcast TV through 2022. PHOTOS: 26 of Hollywood's Most Popular Athletes-Turned-Actors "These agreements underscore the NFL's unique commitment to broadcast television that no other sport has," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "The agreements would not have been possible without our new 10-year labor agreement and the players deserve great credit. Long-term labor peace is allowing the NFL to continue to grow and the biggest beneficiaries are the players and fans." Under the agreement, the NFL will be able to expand its package of games on Thursday night on the NFL Network beginning next year. The league had said it wanted to expand on Thursdays to cover games in the first half of the season but speculation was it would go out for bid. Instead it will air on the NFL Network, which already had Thursday night games in the second half of the season. PHOTOS: 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Shows Most Watched by Men NBC will continue to air the Thursday night season kick off game and carry the primetime game on Thanksgiving starting in 2012. The contract continues flexible scheduling. This means the networks will be able to move games around to get the most exciting matchups on TV. Beginning in 2014, the contract allows games to be moved between CBS and FOX so that important regional matchups can be seen by a wider audience. According to the NFL, 23 of the 25 most watched shows on TV this fall were NFL football games, often drawing twice the viewership of other primetime shows. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Biggest Fantasy Football Fans American Football Conference games will continue to air on CBS on Sunday afternoons. CBS first aired NBL games in 1956. Fox will continue to carry National Football Conference games on Sunday afternoon as it has since it first acquired rights in 1994. NBC continues Sunday Night Football, which it began in 2006. CBS, FOX and NBC will continue to rotate coverage of the Super Bowl. NBC will carry Super Bowl XLIX (49) in Glendale, Arizona in 2015, Super Bowl LII (52) in 2018 and Super Bowl LV (55) in 2021. CBS will broadcast Super Bowl L (50) in 2016, Super Bowl LIII (53) in 2019 and Super Bowl LVI (56) in 2022. FOX will televise Super Bowl LI (51) in 2017, Super Bowl LIV (54) in 2020 and Super Bowl LVII (57) in 2023. Earlier this year ESPN, which is part of ABC/Disney, reached an eight-year extension that keeps Monday Night Football on the cable network through 2021. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 26 of Hollywood's Most Popular Athletes-Turned-Actors Related Topics NBC CBS NFL ESPN Sports

Banking on the vaults

ProughNanulaGrodeA few years ago, banks wouldn't dream of lending against the libraries of indie film companies. Some are still skeptical, but others are starting to appreciate the long-term value of older content thanks to the digital distribution deals inked during the past two years with rising platforms such as Netflix and Hulu."Digital media is starting to make independent distribution of films a more viable business for a greater number of participants," said Stephen Prough, partner at Salem Partners.Erik Pence of Inception Digital Services -- which has digitized content for indies including Millennium Films -- says that for about $2,000, IDS can create a digital master suitable to a number of platforms. "We help them create a master for the digital distribution era," Pence says.At this point Miramax is only a library, with no firm plans as yet to return to production. Since investors purchased the company for $663 million a year ago, it has closed $332 million in new agreements, half of which have been digital licensing pacts. According to its initial offering agreement, Miramax is expecting more than $400 million in cash flow from new digital deals over the next decade -- a larger number than its estimates for traditional home entertainment."Less than a year since acquisition and with only 50 people on staff, there's $350 million of investment grade (debt) available for the library," Colony Capital principal and Miramax chairman Richard Nanula told Variety.Miramax's vast library of about 700 titles gives it a leg up in doing volume business with content-hungry digital upstarts. But even smaller players are cautiously optimistic that digital pacts and projected values will become key parts of their business models. Many bankers concede that the situation is definitely different than it was two years ago. One of the biggest challenges in valuing library content lies in reconciling the promise of digital with the decline in packaged media. Skeptical observers caution that Miramax's valuation of its projected digital revenues may be too optimistic. While many lenders take Miramax's securitization as a positive sign that financiers' attitudes are changing, others wonder if its size and scope outrun the pace of that change."Do I think there will be digital business in a territory where there's no digital business today? Of course," said attorney Josh Grode, of Liner Grode, who was Miramax's lead attorney on its securitization. "Every place in the world is going to have a digital business. That presents a great opportunity for financing the future revenue streams coming off of the new forms of content consumption -- that is what this financing represents."Miramax recently sold off $500 million in debt, including investment-grade debt, to financiers in a deal driven in large part by the kinds of digital agreements the indie has locked down in less than a year, as well as those it expects to ink over the next 10 years. On the traditional pay TV front, it still has a deal with Showtime and recently cut a deal with the pay cabler to license about 165 older titles.Exclusive Media, which has agreements with companies including Netflix and Hulu to help exploit its 600-plus title library, is hoping to close a new credit facility in January. Those deals, as well as future ones, will count toward the company's borrowing base.And digital contracts have become a significant element in the financial plan for other companies over the past two years. The ground-breaking movie licensing pact that Netflix inked in 2010 with Epix -- the joint venture of Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM -- was assessed as a significant value-driver for the three companies, with a value estimated at $900 million over its five-year term.This year, Media Rights Capital put together a $350 million credit facility, at least a small part of which was aided by the company's deal with Netflix for series "House of Cards."For potential investors and lenders, the trick is accurately predicting future digital revenue for a specific deal or library title. Analysts caution that digital exploitation is still in its nascent stages, and the industry is relying on a handful of outlets -- Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, Facebook, etc. -- to push new deals and initiatives forward.It's also tough to measure how new revenue streams may cannibalize traditional ones; some new delivery systems are less a new source of value than a replacement source. Banks, for example, may not feel as comfortable lending against potential homevid value as they might have five years ago. But they are more confident in digital value."Banks are still being pretty cautious," said Christa Thomas, managing director and senior film adviser at SunTrust's private wealth management sports and entertainment specialty group. Thomas notes, however, that more lenders have entered the entertainment space in the past year, including players like OneWest Bank, East West Bank and First Republic Bank.The relatively low cost of distributing via digital compared to the cost of physical discs is helping inspire smaller labels to embrace the space. As digital becomes increasingly important, content owners have realized the importance of safeguarding older product.That cost, however, could be prohibitive for smaller companies that would have no choice but to partner on a traditional homevid deal but may be thinking of going it alone with digital licensing.All of this still hasn't made up for the decline of traditional home entertainment revenue -- not even close. That drop has made investors wary, as it turned future DVD revenue -- once Hollywood's cash cow -- into an unknown quantity more difficult to borrow against.Investors have seen what inflated DVD numbers can do to the bottom line. Some analysts say that outdated homevideo data was used in many of the slate financing deals assembled from 2006 to 2008, leading to overblown expectations.And there's the rub: Predicting digital revenue is the white whale of the entertainment biz at the moment. The good news, for now, is that at least some of the industry's underwriters are starting to bank on its long-term potential. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

'Rock of Ages' Trailer: Alec Baldwin Dons Long Hair, Tom Cruise Goes Shirtless, and Catherine Zeta-Jones Decries 'Sex' (Video)

Bryan Edward Hill has been tapped to rewrite Just Cause: Scorpion Rising, the adaptation of the hit video game being produced by Adrian Askarieh and Eric Eisner.our editor recommends'Chuck's' Zachary Levi: Spike's Video Game Awards Deserve RespectJudge: Beyonc Video Game Lawsuit Can Move ForwardU.S. Copyright Office Considers New Rules Impacting iPads, Video Games, Blu-Rays Just Cause hails from Square Enix, the home of the Tomb Raider and Hitman video games, and centers on a black ops agent codenamed the Scorpion who enters a guerilla war to overthrow a dictator. Just Cause 2 was released earlier this year and sold more than 3.5 million copies; a third game is now in development. The movie will focus on the origin of the Scorpion, aka Rico Rodriguez Askarieh and Eisner, who wil produce via their respective companies Prime Universe Productions and Double E Pictures, are packaging and developing the project before taking it to studios and financiers. Michael Ross (Touristas) wrote the first draft. Hill, an NYU film grad, hails from the advertising world and co-wrote Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box, a Witchblade mini-series for Top Cow. He also co-created the Image comic 7 Days From Hell, being developed for the screen by producer Marc Platt. The comic proved to be Hill's entry into Hollywood; he was hired to write the adaptation, and subsequently sold a spec script to Universal and recently set up a pitch at Paramount. Hill is repped by ICM and Element Entertainment. Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Top Summer Superheroes Of All Time: Battle of Box Office Brawn Video Games

Prospect Park Sells Projects To Fox, USA Network & ABC Family With UCP Creating

Shaun Kwatinetzs Prospect Park has offered 3 more series projects to USA, Fox and ABC Family. Which brings the entire quantity of shows the organization provides this season to 18. Prospect Parks’ latest projects, that have received scripted obligations, are created by Universal Cable Prods., stretching the 2 companies’ existing relationship as co-producers of USA’s hit series Royal Pains. To accomplish the reunion, Prospect Park/UCP’ ABC Family project, a parent-daughter drama occur the Governor’s office, is executive created by Royal Pains co-creator/professional producer Andrew Lenchewski that has a general cope with UCP. Prospect Park’s work for USA is definitely an untitled action procedural from John Scott Shepherd (Existence Or Something Like That Enjoy It). At Fox, the organization has Home Court, one half-hour comedy from Frasier alum Saladin Patterson, who works as a co-executive producer on UCP’s dramedy for USA Psych. This really is UCP’s 4th script purchase to Fox this year, together with Jason Tracey/Hypnotic’s Metropolitan, Zaken & Baxter/Hypnotic’s One Great Existence along with a blind script by Laurie Silverstein. Listed here are explanations of Prospect Park’s projects with UCP: Untitled John Scott Shepherd Author: John Scott Shepherd (CAA) Executive Producers: Shaun Kwatinetz, Josh Craig One-hour action procedural that explores what it really means to become a guy as gender roles are changed at warp speed: When lately divorced, relaxed, stay-at-home father Carter Mann finds themself and the two teenage sons around the edge of losing their house, hes instructed to give in the yoga classes, Crocs, and carpool duty and go back to his previous career like a vice cop. But heres the twist: Carter wasnt just any cop he would be a legendary badass who still supports the record for Perps Dangled out Home windows by Their Ankles. His violent ways got him remanded to intensive therapy and anger management, leading to this much softer version of him, the only version his sons have seen. Now Carter needs to discover the guy between Dirty Harry and Yoga Boy because he reloads, hits the beat, dives into the dating pool and struggles to become the father, mentor, and role model his sons so frantically need. Home Court Author: Saladin Patterson (CAA) Executive Producers: Shaun Kwatinetz, Josh Craig, Take advantage of Carliner Home Court is really a half-hour family comedy that explores what goes on once the haves and also the have-nots all live underneath the same roof. Afraid that hes ruining his over-fortunate children, wealthy professional basketball star and single father Darius Nix decides to maneuver his kids into his sister Traceys modest house within the multi-cultural working class community on sleep issues of town. Tracey and her husband will comically struggle to provide the children a far more lower-to-earth upbringing, but to be able to achieve this the children will need to trade within their platinum cards for public school foods, as well as their housekeepers for house work. Allow the battles begin. Lucy’s Bluff Author: Aaron Tracy (CAA) Executive Producers: Shaun Kwatinetz, Paul Frank, Wealthy Frank, Andrew Lenchewski Lucys Bluff is a 1 hour drama that follows a effective governor who falls ill and asks his estranged daughter to come back home from college to privately run the condition and convince the general public that her father continues to be in control.

NFLs Came Brees To Appear On Sesame Street

First Launched: December 13, 2011 1:36 PM EST Credit: Getty Images NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Caption Saints star Came Brees bends lower to speak inside the microphone on stage after winning the ESPY for top Male Athlete through the ESPY Honours at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in La about this summer time 14, 2010Move over, Grover! One of the NFLs top passers will Sesame Street. Saints quarterback Came Brees is developing a special appearance on Thursdays episode in the educational kids Tv program. He visited the set a few several days ago to record the segment, which co-stars the streets furry red-colored-colored resident, Elmo. The segment will air Thursday morning on PBS Kids. Brees, which has two youthful sons, Baylen and Bowen, recorded the segment before the start of the 2011 regular football season. Brees leads the Nfl with 4,368 passing yards, putting him on pace to destroy Serta Marinos single-season passing record of 5,084 yards, which has was since 1984. Brees introduced they to victory inside the Indiana Colts in Super Bowl XLIV and was that games MVP. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The 11 Most Gleefully Nasty Reviews of year: From 'The Artist' to 'Jack & Jill'

Since the film industry for a job is a lot more than fun (it's FUN!), but you will discover some issues. Particularly, that for every great movie (like 'Young Adult,' out now) there's a significant dog (like 'New Year's Eve,' also out now). For film experts -- who is able to frequently see greater than 100 films in the given year -- meaning don't assume all review will most likely stay positive. Really, some experts seem to want to write a superbly crafted slam -- and who is able to blame them, really? Ahead, the 11 most gleefully nasty reviews of 2011, within the surprising ('The Artist') for the surreal ('Jack & Jill'). 11 Gleefully Nasty Reviews from 2011 Honorable Mention: 'Sucker Punch''The Artist''The Hangover Part II''Green Lantern''The Change-Up''Something Given''Zookeeper''New Year's Eve''Big Momma's House: Like Father, Like Boy''Abduction''Jack & Jill''Bucky Larson: Born to become Star' See All Moviefone Galleries » For further on the most effective of 2011, visit AOL's Better of 2011. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

The Exorcist Camera Brings Record $625K At Auction

The Panavision PSR 35mm camera that George Lucas employed for principal photography around the first The Exorcist movie in 1977 was offered at auction over the past weekend for $625,000, an archive cost for any movie camera. The winning bid came throughout a bidding of Darlene Reynolds Hollywood memorabilia auction placed on by Profiles ever. All featured an entire camera package: two 1000-feet. magazines, a Panaspeed motor, matte box, follow focus, a Moy targeted mind, an Italian-made Elemack camera dolly and lens. Your camera was fully restored and it is in working condition.

Larsen marketed at Comedy Central

Comedy Central has knocked up Jonas Larsen to senior Vice president of talent special offers. Former Vice president of special offers will result in talent development and relations, in addition to managing the roast and stand-up special offers, in addition to "Evening of A Lot Of Stars." "Jonas steered the wild tiger, also called the Charlie Sheen roast, having a sure hands by holding onto its tail. For your alone, he warrants this promotion," stated Kent Alterman, mind of original programming and production and also to whom Larsen reviews. Just before coming at Comedy Central, Larsen created such shows as "Celebrity Fit Club," "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" and "1 versus. 100." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Soap Shakeup: 'One Life To Live' Duo Shift to 'General Hospital'

Getty Images Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati ABC's soap opera drama continues to unfold. General Hospital, what soon will be ABC's last remaining soap opera, is getting a One Life To Live injection. The network on Thursday announced that longtime OLTL executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati would board General Hospital when their current show ends its run in January. PHOTOS: 'All My Children': Famous Alums of ABC's Daytime Drama Valentini will replace current General Hospital showrunner Jill Farren Phelps, who has been with the soap since 2001 and, according to industry chatter, is being forced out as the network shifts away from the ratings-challenged genre, while Carlivati steps in for Garin Wolf, who came aboard the soap in the summer. ABC officially canceled One Life To Live -- along with All My Children -- in April, replacing them with lifestyle shows The Chew and The Revolution. The news followed a string of daytime cancellations at other networks in recent years, including CBS' long-running The Guiding Light, As the World Turns and NBC's Passions. All My Children aired its final episode on Sept. 23. One Life to Live will broadcast its series finale on Jan. 13. The duo will begin their GH duties on Jan. 9. PHOTOS: Daytime Emmy Awards Red Carpet Arrivals The news comes a week after production company Prospect Park scrapped plans to transition both soaps to online formats as part of a new streaming effort. Disney/ABC Television Group daytime president Brian Frons on Thursday said in a statement that he hoped the duo's addition would bring new energy to GH. "As creative leaders in the industry, I am very excited for their arrival to General Hospital, and their dedication to the genre will certainly invigorate the daytime drama that has been part of pop culture and the TV landscape for many years," he said. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit RELATED: 'One Life To Live,' 'All My Children' Will Not Move Online ABC General Hospital One Life to Live

'The Descendants' Ensemble on George Clooney, Alexander Payne, and Not Sucking

'The Descendants' Ensemble on George Clooney, Alexander Payne, and Not Sucking By Jenelle Riley November 30, 2011 Photo by Fox Searchlight In "The Descendants," George Clooney delivers a standout performance as Matt King, a land baron living in Hawaii who discovers that his wife, Elizabeth, has been having an affair. Complicating matters is that Elizabeth is in a coma and Matt is struggling to care for their two daughters, Alexandra and Scottie. Like all of writer-director Alexander Payne's films, "The Descendants" boasts excellent performances from its cast. Three of the actors recently spoke with Back Stage about their roles: Shailene Woodley, who plays Alexandra; Matthew Lillard, who plays Brian, the man having an affair with Elizabeth; and Judy Greer, who plays Brian's unknowing wife. On their most difficult scene to shoot Matthew Lillard: I only have one scene, and I didn't want to suck. At the read-through, I realized I was part of something fantastic. I think the movie's spectacular, and Alexander's one of the great filmmakers in the world right now, and I think it's one of George's great performances in a great career. Going into the experience, I had a real sense of wanting to be proud of my work. It's like playing basketball with Kobe Bryant: You just don't want to suck. Alexander does a great job of casting; he hires you for a reason. So when you get there, there's a sense of comfort in the fact that you've been hired not because of your Q score, or because you represent something in England, or you're on a series. He hires you because he can, and he wants to, and he wants you. And that's really reassuring as an actor. Judy Greer: I'm in three scenes, and the last one was probably the hardest. I shot my first two scenes and left to go work on another job. As I was leaving, I asked Alexander, "How do you want me to prepare for the [last] scene?" He said, "Don't do anything different; just do what you did in your audition." He's just so happy with his casting.Shailene Woodley: There's a scene where George spanks me, and logistically it was hard to shoot. There's another scene that was as hard, but it was cut from the film. It was something I struggled withmaybe that's why it's not in the film!On the actor who plays Elizabeth, who spends most of the film in a coma Woodley: Her name is Patricia Hastie. She was originally hired as a local background artist, and after Alexander saw her commitment and dedication to the role, he demanded credit for her, and she's actually in the front credits. She lost over 20 pounds for the role. She would stay up all night and come to work in the morning, go through hair and makeup, pop a melatonin, and go to bed and say, "Don't wake me for lunch." She was so available for us and so dedicated. For George Clooney or anybody to be yelling at her and all the emotional scenes that she had to lie there through and not have any eye movement, not have any twitch in her nose, it would have ruined the take and we would have had to start over. She was incredible, such an amazing woman and such dedication to the role. On working with Alexander Payne Woodley: Alexander creates such a comfortable environment on set, and he gives you the freedom to express in whatever way you want. He kind of has unspoken guidelineshe never really tells you what they are; you just kind of figure it out. And he lets you go and play. So you can try one thing, and then you can try another thing, and if it's not working, he'll come up and he'll tell you it's not working. And if it is, he actually tells you you're doing a good job. And in life, nobody ever tells you when you're doing good; they just point out when you're doing bad. Lillard: To speak to the talent of Alexander Payne real quick: This is a movie about a guy, his wife is dying, he's left with two kids and [dealing with] indigenous land rights in Hawaii. There's not a studio in the world that would make that, except for Fox Searchlight. And Alexander Payne made it so that it's funny and touching. 'The Descendants' Ensemble on George Clooney, Alexander Payne, and Not Sucking By Jenelle Riley November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Fox Searchlight In "The Descendants," George Clooney delivers a standout performance as Matt King, a land baron living in Hawaii who discovers that his wife, Elizabeth, has been having an affair. Complicating matters is that Elizabeth is in a coma and Matt is struggling to care for their two daughters, Alexandra and Scottie. Like all of writer-director Alexander Payne's films, "The Descendants" boasts excellent performances from its cast. Three of the actors recently spoke with Back Stage about their roles: Shailene Woodley, who plays Alexandra; Matthew Lillard, who plays Brian, the man having an affair with Elizabeth; and Judy Greer, who plays Brian's unknowing wife. On their most difficult scene to shoot Matthew Lillard: I only have one scene, and I didn't want to suck. At the read-through, I realized I was part of something fantastic. I think the movie's spectacular, and Alexander's one of the great filmmakers in the world right now, and I think it's one of George's great performances in a great career. Going into the experience, I had a real sense of wanting to be proud of my work. It's like playing basketball with Kobe Bryant: You just don't want to suck. Alexander does a great job of casting; he hires you for a reason. So when you get there, there's a sense of comfort in the fact that you've been hired not because of your Q score, or because you represent something in England, or you're on a series. He hires you because he can, and he wants to, and he wants you. And that's really reassuring as an actor. Judy Greer: I'm in three scenes, and the last one was probably the hardest. I shot my first two scenes and left to go work on another job. As I was leaving, I asked Alexander, "How do you want me to prepare for the [last] scene?" He said, "Don't do anything different; just do what you did in your audition." He's just so happy with his casting.Shailene Woodley: There's a scene where George spanks me, and logistically it was hard to shoot. There's another scene that was as hard, but it was cut from the film. It was something I struggled withmaybe that's why it's not in the film!On the actor who plays Elizabeth, who spends most of the film in a coma Woodley: Her name is Patricia Hastie. She was originally hired as a local background artist, and after Alexander saw her commitment and dedication to the role, he demanded credit for her, and she's actually in the front credits. She lost over 20 pounds for the role. She would stay up all night and come to work in the morning, go through hair and makeup, pop a melatonin, and go to bed and say, "Don't wake me for lunch." She was so available for us and so dedicated. For George Clooney or anybody to be yelling at her and all the emotional scenes that she had to lie there through and not have any eye movement, not have any twitch in her nose, it would have ruined the take and we would have had to start over. She was incredible, such an amazing woman and such dedication to the role. On working with Alexander Payne Woodley: Alexander creates such a comfortable environment on set, and he gives you the freedom to express in whatever way you want. He kind of has unspoken guidelineshe never really tells you what they are; you just kind of figure it out. And he lets you go and play. So you can try one thing, and then you can try another thing, and if it's not working, he'll come up and he'll tell you it's not working. And if it is, he actually tells you you're doing a good job. And in life, nobody ever tells you when you're doing good; they just point out when you're doing bad. Lillard: To speak to the talent of Alexander Payne real quick: This is a movie about a guy, his wife is dying, he's left with two kids and [dealing with] indigenous land rights in Hawaii. There's not a studio in the world that would make that, except for Fox Searchlight. And Alexander Payne made it so that it's funny and touching.